new to Lantus from PZI

[mrswoodwoose]

Hello, my cat is about 24 years old and due to Insuvet no longer being manufactured, have had to change to Lantus. I have a Solostar pen in the fridge at 2-8C. It is upright. How long can I use this for - I read up to 6 months for some users altho manufacturer says less?

Also, do you wipe the rubber top clean before each use? I used to dip a cotton bud into surgical spirit and wipe it once across the rubber stopper on the Insuvet vials then insert my syringe to withdraw. How hard must I hang on the the plunger to prevent it being drawn back into the pen as mentioned in the video clip? I have never been conscious of this with vials before.

Vet says to start with 1iu BID: my cat is sensitive to insulin as far as I know cos her nadirs can really drop from a high (in the 20's) pre shot. Sh eis also just started hyperthyroid meds so I wonder if I should not start lower, yet I need to avoid ketones.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Blue]

Hello, my cat is about 24 years old and due to Insuvet no longer being manufactured, have had to change to Lantus. I have a Solostar pen in the fridge at 2-8C. It is upright. How long can I use this for - I read up to 6 months for some users altho manufacturer says less?

Also, do you wipe the rubber top clean before each use? I used to dip a cotton bud into surgical spirit and wipe it once across the rubber stopper on the Insuvet vials then insert my syringe to withdraw. How hard must I hang on the the plunger to prevent it being drawn back into the pen as mentioned in the video clip? I have never been conscious of this with vials before.

Vet says to start with 1iu BID: my cat is sensitive to insulin as far as I know cos her nadirs can really drop from a high (in the 20's) pre shot. Sh eis also just started hyperthyroid meds so I wonder if I should not start lower, yet I need to avoid ketones.

Thanks for your help.

I think most people just lay the pen flat in the frig, and it should last you for months by keeping the insulin refrigerated.
The times stated by the mfgr of around 30 days for Lantus and 42 days for Levemir would apply if you do not keep your insulin in the frig..... some people may leave their pens at room temperature, so the shorter time would likely apply to them.

The insulin will not draw back into the pen because of the pressure. At smaller doses, you would have no need to worry.

What dose of your old insulin were you giving? Do you have a sheet of your BG numbers.... it would help others with dose suggestions. You can always start lower, like .5u on your U100 syringes if you would feel better and if you were giving a low dose of the other insulin. You will not be seeing a large and fast drop with Lantus; it's a quite mellow insulin.

Have you had problems with ketones in the past?

With Lantus, there will be a few days before you start to see the full effect because of the shed buildup that occurs first. You can think of any med a dr has given you, and you don't quite start to feel the effects for the first few days while it builds up in your body..... then you start to feel a bit better, yes?

There are some information stickys that you can read which will help you understand the differences between your old insulin and Lantus.... as it applies to cats.

 

[mrswoodwoose]

Many thanks, I keep a paper log on numbers, I have ad a few looks at the google spreadsheets but they looks far too confusing.

Her numbers tend to be about 11-12 (UK numbers) over the last month, pre-shot.

No ketones in the past.

 

[Blue]

Many thanks, I keep a paper log on numbers, I have ad a few looks at the google spreadsheets but they looks far too confusing.

Her numbers tend to be about 11-12 (UK numbers) over the last month, pre-shot.

No ketones in the past.

OK good that you have not had any issues with ketones in the past. Some cats just seem prone to them, so need closer watching when making changes.

Her numbers aren't that bad at all....11-12 is 200 -230 or so.... quite nice.
What dose were you giving of the old insulin? It would be a good idea if you can do a bit of testing on the first few days, just to be sure the dose is OK. Onset may not be for a few hours, so testing around +3 will let you know of any drop, but don't be concerned if that number is higher than pre-shot.

If you need help to set up a google ss, plenty of people here can help you.... it will make for easier help from others when they can see how your cat is reacting to this insulin and the doses.

 

[mrswoodwoose]

Pretty low dose: ranging from 0.4iu to 0.8 in the recent past.

I will def be testing the first 3 days or so and see how we go, I am just nervous due to her great age etc.

 

[Blue]

Pretty low dose: ranging from 0.4iu to 0.8 in the recent past.

I will def be testing the first 3 days or so and see how we go, I am just nervous due to her great age etc.

here's a conversion chart for your dosing.... U40 to U100 I hope it helps.
Also, I added a sheet converting the BG numbers for you so it will help you and others.

U40-U100 conversion chart
BG Conversion Calculator

Looking at the chart, your 0.4u converts to 1u of Lantus in U100 syringes and the 0.8u converts to 2u of Lantus in U100 syringes..... you should be fine with the 1u starting dose - just be sure you are using the new syringes.

 

[mrswoodwoose]

Many thanks but my PZI is U100 and the syringes stay the same: I am using BD mirco fine + demo 0.3ml

 

[Blue]

Many thanks but my PZI is U100 and the syringes stay the same: I am using BD mirco fine + demo 0.3ml

how are you measuring such a small amount of insulin?
You are using BD U100 syringes with 1/2 unit markings and max of 30units?

I would guess you are dosing in drops then?
With U100 syringes, most people can get 4 drops from a 0.5u dose. Is that what you are doing, dosing in just drops? If yes, then a 1unit dose of Lantus in a U100 syringe will be too much insulin.

 

[mrswoodwoose]

how are you measuring such a small amount of insulin?
You are using BD U100 syringes with 1/2 unit markings and max of 30units?

I would guess you are dosing in drops then?
With U100 syringes, most people can get 4 drops from a 0.5u dose. Is that what you are doing, dosing in just drops? If yes, then a 1unit dose of Lantus in a U100 syringe will be too much insulin.[/quote]

Sorry I am having trouble technically replying using quotes!!

I can see the 0,5iu mark well, so I just go a bit up or down from that, the vet says keep same syringes and dos 1iu Lantus BIDe

 

[Blue]

how are you measuring such a small amount of insulin?
You are using BD U100 syringes with 1/2 unit markings and max of 30units?

I would guess you are dosing in drops then?
With U100 syringes, most people can get 4 drops from a 0.5u dose. Is that what you are doing, dosing in just drops? If yes, then a 1unit dose of Lantus in a U100 syringe will be too much insulin.

Sorry I am having trouble technically replying using quotes!!

I can see the 0,5iu mark well, so I just go a bit up or down from that, the vet says keep same syringes and dos 1iu Lantus BIDe[/quote]

On your spreadsheet, you are still posting doses of .4, but you say above that the vet said to dose 1unit am and pm. Are you measuring insulin to the 1.0unit mark or are you still measuring just to the 1/2 unit mark?

Also, with PZI, dosing is based on the preshot BG number, but with Lantus, dosing is based on the lowest number of a cycle, so for you to see how well Lantus is working, it is a good idea to test around mid cycle. As well, it's good to get a test just before you go to bed because many cats have a tendency to go lower in the pm.

 

[mrswoodwoose]

On your spreadsheet, you are still posting doses of .4, but you say above that the vet said to dose 1unit am and pm. Are you measuring insulin to the 1.0unit mark or are you still measuring just to the 1/2 unit mark?

Also, with PZI, dosing is based on the preshot BG number, but with Lantus, dosing is based on the lowest number of a cycle, so for you to see how well Lantus is working, it is a good idea to test around mid cycle. As well, it's good to get a test just before you go to bed because many cats have a tendency to go lower in the pm.

I am still on the PZI despite thinking I would start Lantus last week as I am so nervous about changing over at her age and with her medical history. And I need to have 3 clear days so that I can test a lot. Plus she is eating some A/D just because I feel she needs to try catch up a bit in weight as she stopped eating when the hyperthyroid meds were given. The appetite stimulator seems to be working: or maybe she is adjusting to the thyroid meds, I don't know.